Audio-Technica ATH-R50x vs ATH-R70xa: Which Open-Back Headphones?

Closed-back headphones like the ATH-M50x seal your ears; open-back headphones do the opposite. Their ear cups are vented, so sound feels like it comes from around you rather than inside your head. Audio-Technica, the Tokyo company that has made headphones since 1974, makes two open-back reference models: the ATH-R50x and the ATH-R70xa. They look similar but are built for different setups. Here is the comparison, from Audio-Technica's official US specs and list prices (October 2026).

Impedance is the real difference

At 50 ohms, the R50x plays at a comfortable volume straight from a laptop, phone adapter or basic audio interface. At 470 ohms, the R70xa needs more voltage to reach the same loudness, so it is designed to be used with a headphone amplifier or a studio interface with a strong headphone output. If you plug the R70xa straight into a phone, it may sound quiet. The R70xa replaced the earlier R70x, which Audio-Technica now lists as discontinued.

ATH-R50x: open-back for everyone

The easy way into open-back sound. You get the same 45mm driver size and 5 Hz to 40 kHz range as the R70xa for less than half the price, and you do not need any extra gear. It is the one to pick for long listening sessions at home, gaming in a quiet room, or checking mixes on a laptop.

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ATH-R70xa: the reference model

For mixing and critical listening with an amp. The R70xa is the lighter of the two at about 199g, which matters over long sessions, and its high-impedance drivers are made to pair with studio amplifiers. If you already own an audio interface or headphone amp, it is the more serious tool.

Open-back or closed-back?

• Open-back (R50x, R70xa): spacious, natural sound; leaks sound and lets outside noise in. Best in a quiet room.
• Closed-back (M50x and friends): isolates you and others; better for recording, commuting and shared spaces. See which Audio-Technica headphones.

Made with a Japanese ear

Audio-Technica began in 1962 as a phono cartridge maker in Tokyo before building its first headphones in 1974, and it still makes some of its high-end wooden headphones entirely in Japan, according to Japanese audio trade press. If you listen to vinyl, open-back headphones pair naturally with an Audio-Technica turntable.

Which one suits you?

• No amp, or your first open-back pair: ATH-R50x.
• You have an amp or interface and mix music: ATH-R70xa.

Prefer closed-back? Compare ATH-M50x vs Sony MDR-7506.